LAS VEGAS (AP) - A key marker of COVID-19 infection rates in Nevada has fallen to new lows in the Las Vegas area, but the number of deaths and new cases reported statewide have begun rising above recent averages, state health officials reported Wednesday.
The 14-day positivity rate, tracking the percentage of people who found to be infected among those tested for COVID-19, dropped in Clark County to 4%. Statewide, the figure remained at 4.2%.
Both were below a World Health Organization goal of 5% for governments to relax pandemic prevention restrictions.
However, Nevada tallied 268 new cases on Wednesday and 10 more deaths.
Those numbers are up from recent 14-day averages of 200 new cases a day and three deaths.
Inoculations for COVID-19 have increased in the Las Vegas area, where more than one in six people over the age of 16 has been fully vaccinated, health officials said.
But the average daily number of coronavirus tests in Clark County has decreased to about 5,300, after averaging more than 12,200 a day in January.
The Las Vegas-based Southern Nevada Health District has begun taking website pre-registration for drive-through COVID-19 testing April 7 at Allegiant Stadium near the Las Vegas Strip.
The effort will mark the first testing drive at the stadium built for the NFL Las Vegas Raiders.
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